Guinness World Records List

Guinness World Records List

Record-breakers in the news todayWe can’t start today’s round-up without mentioning last night’s incredible deciding NBA Finals match which saw Miami Heat retain the title after beating San Antonio Spurs 95-88.San Antonio had been mere seconds away from clinching the championship on Tuesday before Miami fought back to win in overtime and force last night’s decider.The showdown proved a record-breaking game, with San Antonio's Danny Green setting a new benchmark for most 3-pointers in a Finals series and Miami's Ray Allen setting a record for playing in the most NBA Game 7s ever.Make sure to check back here next week for a full rundown in Mike Janela’s end-of-month sports blog.From sports to the world of technology, where Sony has been teasing its followers on Twitter with what appears to be the imminent launch of a new smart watch.The Japanese electronics giant is now expected to unveil a new wrist-worn device at the Mobile Asia Expo in Shanghai next week after leaving some fairly big hints on the social network.The first wristwatch was made for a woman, Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, by Swiss watch manufacturer Patek Philippe in 1868.Although it was the first timekeeping device to be designed specifically for use on the wrist, it was intended primarily as a piece of decorative jewellery.While the weather may have suggested otherwise, today marks midsummer and the longest day of the year in the UK.As is the custom, the event was marked by thousands of people this morning at Stonehenge, as spectators joined pagans and druids to watch the sunrise. However, many of those gathered at the ancient monument in Wiltshire were left disappointed, with the dense cloud cover meaning the sun remained hidden.Stonehenge boasts the world’s largest trilithons (structures made from two large vertical stones supporting a third stone set across the top), with a series of sarsen blocks weighing over 45 tonnes (99,208 lb) each. The tallest upright stone in the prehistoric monument is 6.7 m (22 ft) high, with another 2.4 m (8 ft) below ground. The first stage in the building of the stone circle has been dated to 2950 BC.Finally, it’s been confirmed that Robert Downey Jr will reprise his role as Iron Man in two forthcoming Avengers sequels.Downey, 48, was one of the main stars of 2012's Avengers Assemble, which united superhero characters Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Thor and the Black Widow, as played by Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson respectively.The Avengers 2 will open in May 2015, with Joss Whedon returning as director.The actor was recently the recipient of a record breaking greetings card. The card h featured 5,339 signatures from Chinese fans and was presented to him during the Iron Man 3 Red Carpet China Gala event in Beijing, China in April.

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Fan Choice Record August 9

Crank up the Van Halen, because we might as well jump. Jump rope that is, following in the footsteps of Annie Maria Bissoondial.She and her achievement for the most skips (aka rope jumps) in one hour took last week's Fan Choice, collecting 45.45% of your votes.Bissoondial will now be entered with our list of contenders for a year-end showdown in which we'll ask you fans to vote for your favorite record of the year at the end of 2013.Time now to meet this week's candidates and then cast your vote below. This week sees lightning-fast hands and densely thick hair. But first, how many people are in your underpants?MOST PEOPLE IN ONE PAIR OF UNDERPANTS (pictured above)Record: 286 peopleHolders: Stephanie Butler and Bolli Bottoms (UK)Location: Bootle, Merseyside, UKThat's not all: The record was attempted with students from Rimrose Hope primary school and the underpants measured 1,665 cm wide and 254 cm high. It was organised by five students taking part in a competition in conjunction with the Gazelle group and 'Pants to Poverty,' which raises awareness for fair trade within the cotton industry.TALLEST COTTON CANDY/CANDYFLOSSRecord: 5.45 m (17 ft 10.57 in)Holders: SV Feldkirchen-Mitterhartshausen eV in association with Abenteuer Leben, Kabel Eins (both Germany)Location: Feldkirchen bei Straubing, GermanyThat's not all: Consisting merely of spun sugar, cotton candy has been around since the 1700s in Europe, but never at a size like this. By comparison, the average stick of cotton candy found at carnivals and fairs only has about 1 oz (30 g) in a serving.FASTEST MARTIAL ARTS PUNCHRecord: 45 mph (72.42 km/h)Holder: Keith Liddell (USA)Location: Body Tac Karate Dojo in Chicago, Illinois, USAThat's not all: Liddell had the idea to attempt this record after a boxing instructor told him he had uncanny velocity in his punches. Liddell broke his own record from 2012, in which he registered a punch at 44 mph (70.8 km/h).MOST PARTICIPANTS IN A 5K RUN/RACERecord: 86,549 racersHolder: Visakhapatnam District Olympic Association (India)Location: Visakhapatnam, IndiaThat's not all: Out of my way! Certainly a clogged race course, the organizers put the event on simply to promote the host city and celebrate the Olympic spirit on what was deemed "Olympic Day Run." It took 2.5 hours to have all participants eventually cross the finish line.THICKEST STRAND OF HAIRRecord: 477.52 micrometres (0.0188 inches)Holder: Micah Dyer (USA)Location: JDB Ltd, Phoenix, Arizona, USAThat's not all: The hair, which you can see being examined above, was plucked from Dyer's beard. He used a trichologist (doctor who specializes in the health of human hair and scalp) and Micro-Vu technology to measure the individual strands.And those are your nominees for this week's Fan Choice - time now to cast your vote!There are a two ways to do this, including right here by choosing in our poll:&lta href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/7310877/"&gtWhat is your pick for this week's Fan Choice record?&lt/a&gtYou can also tweet your choice to us on Twitter ( @GWR) with the hashtag #GWRFanChoice.Then check back here next week to see who you've helped crown the latest fan favorite!

In a ceremony at the 2013 BIBF today, Guinness World Records Limited, the global authority on record breaking achievement and China’s Foreign Languages Teaching and Research Publishing Limited (FLTRP), the leading education products and services provider in China, signed an agreement for publication of the 2014 Chinese language edition of the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ annual. The Mandarin translation of the world’s biggest-selling copyright book will be released ahead of Chinese New Year in January 2014 and will contain a special section focusing on records achieved by and in China. The signing marks the first in a series of Guinness World Records -FLTRP publishing, e-publishing and live event initiatives that will engage hundreds of thousands of young people in educational world record challenges and provide tens of millions more with inspired educational content accessible in print and on all devices. Speaking at the signing, Guinness World Records President, Alistair Richards said, “FLTRP is a leader in China’s educational publishing market and, as a business and as an authority, this is one of our most exciting new partnerships. We share FLTRP’s founding dedication to ‘recording human civilization and bridging different cultures’ and I thank President Cai for encouraging our teams to explore and embrace synergies that go far beyond the traditional publishing model”. FLTRP President, Cai Jianfeng remarked that “FLTRP is proud to launch our co-operation with Guinness World Records by publishing the official Chinese edition of this famous annual book, which has been entertaining and informing audiences across the globe for nearly 60 years.” Cai added that “In honour of this new partnership, FLTRP will be attempting a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for Most people to write a story as part of our forthcoming Beijing Reading Season from Aug 29 to Sep 7, 2013, and national-scale record attempts will be a key way of engaging with our market going forward. The chance to feature in the book itself is an exciting proposition.”For the editorial teams, the later Chinese New Year launch offers the opportunity to create a Chinese records section unique to that edition. Wu Hao, Director of Humanities and Social Sciences Publishing at FLTRP will oversee the publication and he offers some clear contenders. “Most special entries will be Chinese, but Robert Downey Jr. (Most contributions to a greetings card) and Julio Iglesias (Best selling artist of Latin music - male) are two global stars I expect to feature as their GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Certificates were presented in China this year. It works both ways and one truly intrepid young Chinese record holder, whose name I cannot reveal today, will be presented with his Certificate in London alongside his hero next week”. The partnership is being managed for Guinness World Records by its new wholly-owned subsidiary in Beijing and Greater China President, Rowan Simons estimates the region will average nearly two official adjudications a week this year. “Greater China is one of the fastest growing record breaking regions and hundreds more records will be eligible for inclusion in this edition as our Beijing team extends its research in Chinese,” he adds. According to Simons, this first deal with FLTRP is just one part of a long term strategy that will see GWR introduce full Chinese language products and services across its business lines. “FLTRP was our first choice to bring record breaking solutions to kids known for their thirst for knowledge. The scale of the opportunity in the ELT sector alone is superlative with FLTRP estimating that over 500,000 students participated in its most recent language competition”.

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World's first lab-grown burger eaten, England win ashes and X Games glory for Heikkinen - the news in world records

The record breakers in the news todayThe world's first laboratory-grown burger has been cooked and eaten at a news conference in London this morning. Developed by Maastricht University in the Netherlands, to create the history-making burger, scientists took cells from a cow before turning them into strips of muscle that they then combined to make a patty, The 5oz (142g) burger was by cooked at the event by chef Richard McGeown, and tasted by food critics Hanni Ruetzler and Josh Schonwald. After tasting the burger, Austrian food researcher Ms Ruetzler said: "I was expecting the texture to be more soft... there is quite some intense taste it's close to meat, but it's not that juicy. The consistency is perfect, but I miss salt and pepper."The team behind the burger say the technology could be a sustainable way of meeting what they say is a growing demand for meat. Guinness World Records is currently awaiting evidence to support claims that the synthetic meat cost £250,000 to produce - if verified it would see the patty take the record for most expensive hamburger, beating the $5,000 (£3,188.37) price tag for a 352.44kg patty prepared by Juicys Outlaw Grill, in Oregon, USA, in July 2011.England’s cricketers have this afternoon retained the Ashes after drawing the third Test with Australia at Old Trafford.With the series poised at Australia had been in a strong position earlier in the day, having dismissed Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen to leave England to 37-3 in pursuit of an unlikely target of 332.However, heavy rain after lunch prevented any resumption of the match, leaving no option but for the captains to shake hands on a draw.The result gives England an unbeatable 2-0 lead with two Tests to play in the five-match series and ensures they will keep hold of the urn.While the draw will offer little consolation to Australia, it does at least prevent a humiliating series whitewash for the tourists and the opportunity to salvage a draw from the series.Australia currently hold the record for most Test match Men’s cricket series "whitewashes", having won every Test match in a series on 17 seperate occasions.Finland’s Toomas Heikkinen was among the big winners at this weekend’s X Games in Los Angeles, after taking gold in the Global Rallycross event.Heikkinen led the way, winning the event with a time of 6:15.573. Elsewhere, Justin Brayton, Vicki Golden and Mike Schultz each hit gold during some electrifying MotoX racing action at the Staples Center.This year’s event marks the last time it will be held in Los Angeles, with Austin, Texas set the host the extreme sports festival next year.The greatest height achieved in the X Games Moto X Step Up event is 14.33 m (47 ft), by Ronnie Renner (USA), at last year’s event in LA.

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Fan Choice Record of the Week: April 5

Last week's Fan Choice Record saw contenders from Poland, Russia, Japan, and the U.S. vying for your votes, in everything from dancing bachata to popping toast as high as possible.The fans have spoken and your favorite record of the week was the most stairs climbed by bicycle!Congratulations go out to Krystian Herba for his record, garnering more than 74% of the vote. This achievement will now be entered in our list of contenders for a year-end showdown in which we'll ask you fans to vote for your favorite record of the year at the end of 2013.This week, we have five more amazing record entries to share with you. Do you have a thing for traffic guards? Appreciate a well-dressed man? Hate the dark? Then we've got the records for you -- let us know your favorite below!Most people wearing high visibility vests (see image above)Record: 1,475 participantsHolder: Hi-Five 4 Hi VisLocation: Oranmore, IrelandThat's not all: The attempt was held as part of National Road Safety Week, with participants handed free vests from the Road Saftey Authority upon arrival. It is the first-ever Guinness World Records feat achieved in Oranmore.Fastest 100 metres on spring-loaded stiltsRecord: 14.3 secHolder: Adam SindenLocation: Warwick, Queensland, AustraliaThat's not all: Only 14 years old, Sinden undertook the attempt to help raise funds for the rehabilition costs of a friend of his who suffers from a rare brain condition. Sinden reached a top speed of 18.02 mph (29 km/h) during his dash.Most candles lit simultaneously at a single venueRecord: 12,135Holder: Art of Living FoundationLocation: Ahmedabad, IndiaThat's not all: More than 50,000 people were invited to the Festival of Light at Sardar Patel Stadium for this attempt during Diwali. Stated goals for the gathering were to pray for peace, joy, and world happiness.Fastest half marathon in a suitRecord: 1 hr 39 min 50 secHolder: Ben MooreLocation: Birmingham, UKThat's not all: Moore ran the Great Birmingham Run, his fourth half marathon in addition to having run a full marathon. He was required to wear a jacket, trousers, vest, shirt, tie, and dress socks. Sneakers, though, were permitted.Most people on trampolinesRecord: 302 bouncing participantsHolder: Becky White and onesixeight: fitnessLocation: Loughborough University, Loughborough, UKThat's not all: The attempt took place as part of the university's Olympic Torch Relay celebrations, when the torch passed through Loughborough last summer. White is a personal trainer who specializes in mini-trampoline exercises for adults and children.Now it's time for you to cast your vote! As a reminder, head to our Facebook page to vote in our weekly poll, leave your choice in the comment section below, or tweet your choice to us on Twitter (@GWR) with the hashtag #GWRFanChoice.Then check back here next week to see who's been crowned the latest fan favorite.

Record-breakers in the news todayDisney icon Annette Funicello, one of the best-known members of the original 1950s Mickey Mouse Club TV show, has passed away at the age of 70.Funicello was just 13 when she was personally selected by Walt Disney himself to be one of the original ‘Mouseketeer’ presenters of the hugely popular children’s variety show.The actress, who went on to star in numerous 1960s "beach party" films, died Monday at a California hospital from complications due to multiple sclerosis.Funicello paved the way for later Mouseketeers who appeared on the show, such as actor Ryan Gosling and singers Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.As a member of the boyband *NSync, Timberland helped set a world record for fastest selling pop album in the US, with the group’s No Strings Attached long player shifting a staggering 2.42 million copies in its first week.The U.S. Navy has confirmed plans to deploy a laser weapon aboard a warship for the first time.The solid-state laser, which is capable of shooting down small aircraft, will be deployed on the USS Ponce in early 2014, following successful tests against drones and fast-moving small boats.The world’s most powerful handheld laser is the Hercules 500. Made by Laserglow Technologies of Ontario, Canada, the Class IV hand-held battery-powered device features five independent safety devices to make it legal to use around the world. Its long-range applications include construction and antenna alignment, but at close range it is capable of starting fires.Next to the world of basketball, where fans of the Louisville Cardinals are celebrating following their incredible 82-76 victory over the Michigan Wolverines to win the NCAA Division I men's basketball championship.Monday night’s match in Atlanta proved to be something of a classic showdown, with the Cardinals fighting their way back from a double-digit deficit in the first half to lead during much of the second half and finally clinch victory.Cardinals coach Rick Pitino, (pictured above), will now be expected to fulfil a promise he made to his players before the match, after agreeing to get a tattoo if they won.The world’s most tattooed person is the chainsaw-juggling, unicycling, sword-swallowing Lucky Diamond Rich (Australia, b. New Zealand), who has spent more than 1,000 hours having his body modified.Lucky has a 100% covering of black ink, including his eyelids, the delicate skin between the toes, down into the ears, and even his gums. He is now being tattooed with white designs on top of the black, and coloured designs on top of the white.Finally, Uhuru Kenyatta has today been sworn in as Kenya’s youngest-ever president during an inauguration ceremony at a stadium in the capital of Nairobi.The 51-year-old son of Kenya's founding leader Jomo Kenyatta became the country's fourth president after winning the election with 50.07% of the vote.The youngest current head of state is Kim Jong-un of North Korea who ascended to the leadership position on 17 December 2011, following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.Although Kim Jong-un’s exact age has never been confirmed, speculation is that he was 27 upon succeeding his father – although his date of birth has been listed as 8 January 1982 or the same date in 1983 or 1984.

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Letta set to be Italian PM, Lance Armstrong lawsuit, and AP Twitter hack – The news in world records

Record-breakers in the news todayEnrico Letta looks all set to become Italy's new prime minister, after accepting President Giorgio Napolitanos request to form a coalition government.The appointment of Mr Letta, currently deputy leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, could signal the end of two months of parliamentary deadlock following an inconclusive general election in February.The 46-year-old will be looking to now form a cabinet that can win cross-party support, with former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing People of Freedom Party indicating that they are ready to form a coalition under a figure like Mr Letta.Media tycoon Berlusconi holds the world record for richest prime minister, having amassed a personal wealth of $10 billion (£5 billion) according to Forbes in 2004.Wimbledon officials have announced the biggest increase in prize money in the history of tennis with the All England club hiking up the tournament pot by 40 per cent.The move will see winners of the men and women's competitions each take home $2.4 million.The highest annual earnings for a tennis player record is held by Roger Federer (Switzerland) who pocketed a staggering $54.3 million from July 2011 to July 2012.Staying with sport and huge finances, it emerged today that the US government has served disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong with a £78m lawsuit.The 41-year-old, who has admitted to doping during all of his seven Tour de France wins, is accused of violating his contract with his former team and is said to have been "unjustly enriched" while cheating to win the Tour de France."The US Postal Service paid about $40m [£26m] to sponsor the USPS team from 1998 to 2004," the court document said.The largest fine imposed on an individual for an individual fine is $200 million (£122 million), which Michael Milken (USA) agreed to pay on 24 April 1990 in settlement of a criminal racketeering and securities fraud suit brought by the US government.In addition, he agreed to settle civil charges filed by the Securities and Exchange Commision. He was released from a 10-year prison sentence in 1993.The FBI is investigating after hackers changed a news agency AP’s Twitter feed to say the White House had been attacked.The hoax sent markets diving, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling130 points, or 0.9%.The largest percentage decline in a day's trading on the New York Stock Exchange was 22.61 per cent when the Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index measuring conditions on the exchange, dropped 508 points on 19 October 1987 (Black Monday) to close at 1,738.74.

The National Football League kicks off its season this week, and we have 10 of our favorite Guinness World Records to celebrate: 1. Largest audience for a US TV programmeAmerica came to a standstill as the New York Giants clinched a last-gasp 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on 5 February 2012. The game attracted an average of 111.3 million viewers, peaking at 114 million for Madonna's (USA) half-time show. 2. First undefeated regular season by an NFL teamThe New England Patriots (USA) scored a 16-0 record in 2007, becoming the first team in NFL history to achieve an undefeated regular season since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. The New England Patriots (USA) joined the 1934 Chicago bears (13-0), 1942 Chicago Bears (11-0) and 1972 Miami Dolphins (14-0) as the only undefeated regular season teams in the NFL's 93 year history 3. Highest completion percentage, NFL seasonThe National Football League (NFL) record for highest completion percentage by a quarterback in a season is 71.2 percent, by Drew Brees (USA) playing for the New Orleans Saints (USA) in 2011. Brees completed 468 of 657 attempts to break his own mark of 70.6 percent in 2009. 4. Most field goals attempted, NFL seasonDavid Akers (USA) set the National Football League (NFL) record for most field goals attempted in a season with 52 while place-kicking for the San Francisco 49ers (USA) in 2011. 5. Youngest NFL coachThe youngest coach ever hired in the NFL's modern era is Lane Kiffin (USA, b. 9 May 1975) who was 31 years 259 days when he signed on to coach the Oakland Raiders on 23 January 2007, just prior to the 2007 season. 6. Oldest people connecting on an NFL touchdown passVinny Testaverde (USA, b. 13 November 1963), playing for the New England Patriots, threw to team mate, Troy Brown (USA, b. 2 July 1971) on 31 December 2006 against the Tennessee Titans, making them the oldest combined ages for players connecting on an NFL touchdown pass with 78 years, 230 days. 7. Most fumble return touchdowns, NFL careerThe National Football League (NFL) record for most fumble return touchdowns is 6, by Jason Taylor (USA) while playing for the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins and New York Jets (all USA) from 1997 to 2011. 8. Longest NFL field goalThe National Football League (NFL) record for longest successful field goal is 63 yards by Sebastian Janikowski (Poland) of the Oakland Raiders (USA) on 12 September 2011 Jason Elam (USA) of the Denver Broncos (USA) on 25 October 1998 and Tom Dempsey (USA) of the New Orleans Saints (USA) on 8 November 1970. 9. Most pass completions in an NFL career by a quarterbackThe most pass completions in an NFL career by a quarterback were set by Brett Favre (USA) for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings with 6,083 pass completions between 1992 and 2010. 10. Fastest touchdown in NFL historyPlaying for the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles on 12 October 2003, wide receiver Randal Williams ran in the fastest touchdown in NFL history. On the opening play of the game, the Eagles attempted an onside kick, but Williams caught the ball and returned it 37 yards for a TD. The play, which set up a 23-21 Cowboys win, took just 3 seconds off the clock.

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Images of the Week: From the largest gamepad to the most balls juggled

Every Friday we'll be publishing on guinnessworldrecords.com some of our favourite images that have been recently added to the GWR archive.Largest console gamepadOfficially verified in August 2011 as the world's largest console gamepad (above), this fully functional NES pad measures an enormous 366 cm x 159 cm x 51 cm (12 ft x 5 ft 3 in x 1 ft 8 in). Its main creator is engineering student Ben Allen, who was helped by Stephen van't Hof and Michel Verhulst, all of whom study at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. The fantastic facsimile is 30 times the size of a standard NES controller, and requires gamers to navigate its enormous buttons. If you wanted to use this like a standard handheld pad, you would need to be 51 m (167 ft) tall - the same height as London landmark Nelson's Column!Most balls juggledThe most balls juggled is 11 and was achieved by Alex Barron (UK), who managed 23 consecutive catches in what is known as a "qualifying" juggling run. This feat was achieved at Roehampton Squash Club, London, UK, on 3 April 2012. Alex, 18 years old at the time of the attempt, spent 2 years practising this feat-a record which had not been broken for 16 years. On the day in question, he spent 4 and a half hours in a squash court in his Easter holidays trying to reach his target. He was getting tired when he kept managing 7 runs of 21 catches when, finally, he achieved this number! Alex also jointly holds the record for Most balls flashed by a juggler, although for his attempt he used beanbags, achieving one throw better than a twelve-ball flash, making a 13 bag flash.Largest skateboardThe largest skateboard measured 11.14 m (36 ft 7 in) long, 2.63 m (8 ft 8 in) wide and 1.10 m (3 ft 7.5 in) high it was designed and produced by Rob Dyrdek and Joe Ciaglia (both USA) in Los Angeles, California, USA and unveiled on 25 February 2009 on the MTV series 'Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory'.Fastest mobility scooterColin Furze (UK) has supercharged a mobility scooter so that it can reach a top speed of 115.21 km/h (71.59 mi/h). It took Colin three months to convert the scooter, which features five gears, a 125cc motorbike engine and twin exhausts.Largest easelThe largest easel is 17.22 m (56ft 6 in) tall and 9.45 m (31 ft) wide. It was made by Rajasekharan Parameswaran of Meenachal, Tamilnadu, India, and was measured on 19 April 2008.

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Peter Kay breaks record for Most tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour

Comedian Peter Kay has officially entered the Guinness World Records book for the planet's biggest-selling stand-up tour.His Tour That Doesn't Tour Tour… Now on Tour show sold 1,140,798 tickets in 113 arena dates between February 2010 and November 2011, earning him a place in the new 2013 edition of the book.Peter said of his inclusion in the new book: 'I'm extremely proud to have receiving such an honour. I never imagined that one day I'd be included in the Guinness World Records, just goes to show that the lovely Roy Castle was right, dedication is exactly what you need if you want to be a record breaker.'Peter's record and many, many more feature in the new Guinness World Records 2013 edition - available from 13 th September 2012 across the UK.

A British team building a car capable of driving at land speed world record-breaking speeds today successfully tested the vehicle's rocket engine inside a shelter at Newquay Airport in Cornwall.The event marked the most important milestone yet in the development of the 1,000mph Bloodhound SSC vehicle ahead of the team's attempt at the land speed record in two years' time.Capable of producing 27,000lbf of peak thrust (122kN), at four meters (12 feet) long, 45.7 cm (18 inches) in diameter and weighing 400 kg, the Falcon rocket is the largest hybrid ever designed in Europe and the largest rocket to have been tested in the UK for 20 years.videoCGI simulation of the Bloodhound SSC in actionIn its final form it will generate thrust equivalent to the combined output of 95 Formula 1 cars.The rocket was put through its paces at the airport in front of an audience of 400 people, and streamed live on the Guinnessworldrecords.com.After surveying the sensor data, the rocket's designer Daniel Jubb said he was satisfied with the way the experiment had gone.The rocket was operated for 20 seconds, producing the equivalent of 20,000-30,000 break horse power during the burn - just under half what it is set to produce during the record attempt.During the test, the F1 engine revved up to 17,500rpm in order to fire HTP into the rocket at a pressure of 600lbs per square inch, equivalent to holding a large family car on the palm of your hand, and with enough flow to fill a bath in 5 seconds.Sound levels during the test approached 185dB, many times that of a Boeing 747 at take off.The rocket will not be the only power unit in the Bloodhound vehicle when it tries to break the world land speed record on a dried-up lakebed in South Africa.There will also be a jet from a Eurofighter-Typhoon and Cosworth CA2010 engine usually found in Formula One cars.The current land speed world record stands at 763.035 mi/h (1,227.985 km/h) (Mach 1.020), set in October 1997 by many of the key members of the same British team involved in the Bloodhound project, including project director Richard Noble, chief aero engineer Ron Ayres and driver, RAF Pilot Andy Green.The test was conducted inside a Hardened Air Shelter (HAS) which was used in the past to house Tornado fighter-bombers, with the rocket being bolted to a stand so it could not move.

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Sochi 2014: Opening weekend record roundup

We tried our best to get you ready for the Sochi Winter Olympics.It started way back in October, when we compared the Sochi flame's relay to other epic journeys. Then we shared some of our personal favorite Winter Olympics memories, before offering some primers on the figure skating competition, men's ice hockey tournament, and five athletes to keep your eye on.We hope it worked. Because Sochi's opening weekend has already blown us away with some world record achievements. Here's a quick roundup on some highlights from Russia.GOLDEN (AND SILVER AND BRONZE) OLDIESThree men having already competed staked their claims as some of the most durable - and successful - Olympians ever.With not only an appearance but also a silver medal in singles luge, Albert Demchenko (Russia) appeared in his seventh Winter Olympics, breaking the record for most Winter Games competed in. His solo glory didn't last all that long, though, as one day later Noriaki Kasai (Japan) equalled that feat with his seventh Winter appearance in ski jumping. Kasai finished 8th in the normal hill competition, though, so Demchenko can at least still clutch that extra medal. But don't count Kasai out of owning this record outright someday.videoAnd Norway's Ole Einar Bjorndalen (above) earned a record double with his gold in the biathlon men's sprint. It made Bjorndalen not only the oldest gold medalist in Winter Olympics history (40 years 12 days), but also the joint-most successful Winter Olympian ever. His career 12 medals match countryman and cross country skier Bjorn Dahlie for most ever at the Winter Games.SUSTAINED EXCELLENCEBack to the luge track, Italy's Armin Zoeggeler (top photo) may not own the longevity of Demchenko or Kasai (he's appeared in "only" six Olympics) or the total medal count of Bjorndalen. But man is he consistent. With his bronze in the men's luge singles, Il Cannibale has now won the most consecutive medals in the same individual event, placing in the top 3 of every men's singles luge since Lillehammer.And with the medal table showing Norway joint-top with seven total podiums as of the time of this publishing, the Scandinavian power continues to maintain its hold on the record for most Winter Olympics medals won by a country, with 310 and counting.STRENGTH IN NUMBERSvideoAs of the Opening Ceremonies (which gave us a classic new meme), the U.S. came in flexing its muscle of sheer volume, which reflected a larger theme in this year's Games. America's 230-athlete delegation is the largest ever sent to a Winter Olympics, while the Sochi Games themselves welcomed 87 National Olympic Committees to the Opening Ceremonies, the most nations to ever attend a Winter Games. Not surprisingly with a spectacle of this scale (and also as a result of trying to host the Winter Olympics in a summer resort town), Sochi has also laid claim to being the most expensive Olympics ever, with a price tag of more than $50 billion.--------So, with an amazing opening weekend to the side, we can't wait to see what the rest of the Olympic fortnight has in store! Be sure to follow Guinness World Records on Twitter, Facebook, and at Google+ for the latest news on records not only Olympic, but of all kind.

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Winter Olympics, NBA All-Star Game Highlight the February Sports Blog

For a month that saw most of the sporting world overtaken by winter, February sure brought a ton of sports record-breaking.That tends to be the case in any Olympic year and Sochi 2014 was no different. But, the escapades of Dutch speed skaters and Norwegian biathletes wasn't the only thing grabbing our attention this month. Here's a look at some of the best sports records February had to offer, and don't forget to check out our video below for some of the best sports records broken by fans like you this month.SOCHI SPOTLIGHTWe've already covered the best of Sochi pretty comprehensively elsewhere on this site, and what a great competition it was. The Olympics began shrouded in many fears, but the two weeks in the shadows of the Caucuses brought nothing but the sports memories we're accustomed to from those five famous rings. Let's catch you up on what happened:Here are our web team's 10 favorite records of the Games, of the more than three dozen that were set overall.Have you heard of Ole Einar Bjoerndalen? You should.The Games were record-breaking even from the opening weekend.Only two years until Rio!NBA ALL-STAR GAMEvideoEach year, the best players from the NBA's Eastern and Western conferences suit up to play no defense, throw alley-oop after alley-oop, and shoot 3s like they were hitting from Hot Spots in NBA Jam T.E. I love it.But this year's All-Star Game in New Orleans took the offense to a new stratosphere.The 318 combined points in the 163-155 East win broke the record for most total points in the game. ...The 165 combined points in the first half were the most ever in an All-Star half. ...The West's losing effort would've even tied the record for most points scored by a team in All-Star history, which of course the East now holds. ...Carmelo Anthony hit a record eight 3-pointers. It was part of a 100-attempt barrage of 3s between both sides, the most ever in the exhibition. ...And with his tied-for-game-high 38 points, Kevin Durant pushed his record career All-Star scoring average to 30.6 ppg.AROUND THE WORLDManchester United fans may not be happy to hear it, but the Champions League is back! Take a look at some of the records set in group play as the knockout stages began this month. ...Sergei Bubka was in the stands to watch his 21-year-old record for the highest pole vault jump broken by Renaud Lavillenie this month. Check out our recap, with videos. ...And, interested in setting a record at a world-class athletic event yourself? Well here's your chance at this year's Virgin London Marathon.Lastly, don't forget to check out our YouTube Sports Vlog this month, featuring videos of the fastest mile in a bomb disposal suit, shortest usable pogo stick in action, and the farthest golf drive!videoSee you next month!For the latest in all things world record, visit Guinness World Records on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ and check out Guinness World Records on YouTube to subscribe for the newest videos!

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Land speed record holder Andy Green OBE honoured as part of Guinness World Records 60th anniversary

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British man runs fastest half marathon in American football gear

Sick of Johnny Manziel stories describing what he had for dinner?Sick at the thought that Andy Dalton (Andy Dalton!) will make $22 million in the next six months alone?Well, how about a story on Matthew Stephens?If you haven't heard of Matthew, we can't blame you. He's not on any NFL roster and isn't enrolled at an SEC school. But, as training camps and summer gridiron sessions get going across America, Stephens has forced us to train our football-loving eyes across the pond.Last week, Matthew's record attempt at the fastest half marathon in American football kit was officially verified as successful. He clocked an official time of 1 hr 43 min 42 sec at the Hastings Half Marathon in Hastings, East Sussex, UK, earlier this spring.It may not sound natural to have a UK citizen attempt an American football-related record, but Matthew has a unique story. And, as a fan of the sport since growing up in the '80s, he was out to prove a point."It seems that many Brits consider American Football to be an inferior sport," Matthew said, "suggesting that all the padding somewhat softens the players' physicality, and that the stop-start nature of the game leads to lower levels of fitness."I wanted to prove that an American football player can perform sustained exercise. Running a half marathon seemed like a reasonable way to disprove the sport's critics."Matthew started running competitively in 2011. Two years later, an American football team named the Hastings Conquerers formed near his home and he jumped at the chance to join. By the time the Hastings Half rolled around this year, he was ready to combine his two loves - representing his team and his sport while competing against the public.Rules stated that Matthew had to wear at least a jersey, pants, helmet, shoulder pads, hip pads, thigh pads, knee pads, athletic supporter, and knee-high socks. Anything else was deemed an optional accessory, like the coccyx pad he chose to wear, because that's what he was used to during games. As with all marathon records, the one permitted variation was running shoes.Currently 31, Matthew has a goal of running 100 marathons by age 40, and he's on pace so far. We're pretty sure after this race, getting back to a T-shirt and shorts will make life on the course a lot easier."I applied to Guinness World Records so that I could brag about this achievement and have something to show for my efforts," Matthew said. "I will have a story to tell when meeting new people. I will impress my future grandchildren with my sporting prowess."And for the latest on all things world record, visit Guinness World Records on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and our brand-new Instagram. Plus check out Guinness World Records on YouTube to subscribe for the latest record-breaking videos!

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Guinness World Records Statement: Most people singing a national/regional anthem simultaneously

Guinness World Records, the global authority on record breaking achievement, provided The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, with remote adjudications service for the official record Most people singing a national/regional anthem simultaneously.The remote adjudication service means our representatives were not present at the event but did provide video and guidelines as well as quick verification of their evidence.We are currently waiting to receive their evidence for their record claim for the Most people singing a national/regional anthem simultaneously and we look forward to receiving the evidence.For the moment, the current record for this category stands at 121,653 which and was achieved in Lucknow, India, on 6 May 2013.

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Fan Choice record: October 25

The coin-op right may have been faster, and the bead mosaic larger, but in the end, the kids outdid them all.With 42.92% of the vote, Calmore Infant and Junior School (UK) and its record for longest human chain to pass through a hula hoop held off stiff competition to claim last week's Fan Choice. Those students will now be entered into our year-end competition where we'll ask you, the fans, to choose your favorite record of 2013.This week, we've got a a lot of people floating and a domino engineering wonder, but first, we go to Croatia!LONGEST SCOUBIDOU/BOONDOGGLE (pictured above)Record: 596 m (1,955 ft 4.52 in)Holder: Vladimir Vidriæ primary school (Croatia)Location: Kutina, CroatiaThat's not all: It took 425 students and 50 teachers to put the chain together, which came about as a school project designed to unite the students to a single task. A poll of the pupils revealed that they found assembling the scoubidou more fun than going on Facebook, as it made them calmer!LARGEST GATHERING OF PEOPLE WEARING FALSE MUSTACHESRecord: 2,268Holder: City of Fairfield & the Fairfield RAGBRAI Committee (USA)Location: Fairfield, Iowa, USAThat's not all: RAGBRAI stands for The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, an event that's been held each year since 1973. More than 20,000 people descended upon the city for the race weekend, offering plenty of eager participants for the record attempt.TALLEST DOMINO STRUCTURERecord: 5.27 m (17 ft 3.9 in)Holder: Thomas Holmes (UK)Location: Bristol, UKThat's not all: To construct his record-breaking structure, Holmes painstakingly stacked just 2,688 dominoes, compared to more than 9,000 used in the previous record. As a structural engineer professionally, Holmes has worked on projects including the Qatar National Museum, London's Leadenhall Skyscraper, and the Abu Dhabi International Airpot.LARGEST DISPLAY OF ORIGAMI BOATSRecord: 4,345 boatsHolders: Montessori Kita St Godehard (Germany)Location: Forst, GermanyThat's not all: The record attempt took place to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the kindergarten in Forst. The origami display represented a boat as the theme was "Noah and his Ark." More than 200 people helped contribute to making boats for the display.MOST PEOPLE TREADING WATERRecord: 469 participantsHolder: Buffalo Triathlon (USA)Location: Buffalo, Minnesota, USAThat's not all: These people could've used some of those boats! The Triathlon held this attempt to spread awareness for learning how to swim, in order to prevent water-related injuries and drownings in the area's lakes for people who don't know how to swim.And those are your nominees for this week's Fan Choice time now to cast your vote!&ampamplta href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/7506288/"&ampampgtWhat is your pick for this week's Fan Choice record?&ampamplt/a&ampampgtThen check back here next week to see who you've helped crown the latest fan favorite!The Guinness World Records 2014 book edition is on sale now at all major retailers. Find a full list here. Don't forget to also download three exclusive digital books, available now exclusively at iBooks: " Awesome Animals," (free download), " Colossal Constructions," and " Incredible People."

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Fan Choice record: October 11

Obviously you fans can appreciate diligence and hard work, as you rewarded both with your votes last week. Amna Al Fard of the UAE took home the win in our Fan Choice for the largest display of handmade paper dolls: a process that took her more than two years to complete.With 64.02% of the vote, she cruised to victory and will now be entered into our year-end competition where we'll ask you, the fans, to choose your favorite record of 2013.This week, we've got a lot of naked swimmers in Spain and maybe the luckiest record of all-time. But first, pop pop!MOST PEOPLE POPPING PARTY POPPERS (pictured above)Record: 743Holder: Grey Court School (UK)Location: Richmond, Surrey, UKThat's not all: Founded in 1950, the Grey Court School hosts students ages 11-16. When asked why they attempted this record, they answered simply "Just for fun!"LARGEST CINNAMON ROLLRecord: 276 kg (609 lb) Holder: Second Floor Bakery (USA)Location: Holland, Michigan, USAThat's not all: We can't be the only ones getting hungry looking at all that frosting. The completed roll measured 1.83 m (6 ft) in diameter and 17.8 cm (7 in) tall, and required more than 24 hours of preparation and cooking time. The roll's dough used more than 43 lb of sugar!MOST PEOPLE SKINNY DIPPINGRecord: 729 Holder: Vera Playa Friends (Spain) Location: El Playazo beach in Vera Playa, Almeria, SpainThat's not all: Because this is a family site, we can't show you any of the close-up photos our records team had to review to verify this record but believe us when we tell you this attempt was legit! Because the attempt took place on a public beach, organizers needed to cordon off special area solely for the adventurous.LARGEST HORSESHOERecord: 1.56 m (5 ft 1.42 in) tall, 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) wideHolders: Martinsville Agricultural Fair (USA) Location: Martinsville, Illinois, USAThat's not all: If horseshoes are considered a lucky charm, then the folks of Martinsville ought to be buying lottery tickets like mad. The concept for building the horseshoe originated from rich history horse racing has in Martinsville, which has held horse races at their annual fair for more than 100 years.LARGEST INDOOR SKYDIVING WIND TUNNELRecord: I nternal volume of 373.190 m³ (13,179.08 ft³)Holder: iFly Singapore (Singapore)Location: Sentosa Island, SingaporeThat's not all: In a perfect compromise for those who want the thrill of skydiving without the terror of jumping from a plane, t he volume stated above offers a tunnel in which simulated skydives can be made. The tunnel has a "flyable" height of 16.602 m (54 ft 5.62 in).And those are your nominees for this week's Fan Choice time now to cast your vote!&lta href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/7469644/"&gtWhat is your pick for this week's Fan Choice record?&lt/a&gtThen check back here next week to see who you've helped crown the latest fan favorite!The Guinness World Records 2014 book edition is on sale now at all major retailers. Find a full list here. Don't forget to also download three exclusive digital books, available now exclusively at iBooks: " Awesome Animals," (free download), " Colossal Constructions," and " Incredible People."

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(VIDEO) Kenichi Ito breaks his own record for fastest 100m running on all fours for GWR Day

He’s done it again! Japan’s Kenichi Ito has once again shown he’s the quickest human on hands and feet by beating his own record for fastest 100m running on all fours.Kenichi beat a field of athletes on all fours for a special race to mark Guinness World Records Day at the Olympic Park Athletic Field, in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.Reaching the finish line in a record breaking time of 16.87 seconds, Kenichi’s incredible display beat his previous benchmark time of 17.47 seconds set last year on GWR Day.Ito's running technique has taken nine years to develop and is based on the movement of the African Patas monkey.video

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GWR October Sports Blog

The temperatures may be dropping, but the sports action is heating up. The World Series crowned the Boston Red Sox champs, Peyton Manning continued to tear up the NFL, and European soccer season is in full swing.It's the month of October in sports records!BOSTON STRONGJust a year after finishing last in their division, the Boston Red Sox completed their swift, worst-to-first turnaround this month, besting the St. Louis Cardinals in six games to win the World Series. After not winning a title from 1918-2004, Boston has now taken three crowns in 10 seasons, and this year's series saw plenty of record oddities.The series itself offered us two firsts: Game 3 was the first-ever World Series game to end on an obstruction call, while Game 4 the very next night offered the first-ever playoff game to end on a pickoff.It also offered us yet more proof that David Ortiz might be a cyborg sent from the future designed strictly to win postseason baseball games. With his 11-for-16 performance with two home runs and six RBI, Ortiz added to his Fall Classic legend with the series MVP award. Of all players with a minimum of 50 World Series at-bats, Ortiz now owns the highest batting average (.455), on-base percentage (.576), and slugging percentage (.795) in World Series history.And, oh yeah, he does things like this, which helped get Boston back to the World Series in the first place.videoTO THE GRIDIRONThe end of October took us through Week 8 of the NFL season, and one recurring theme through the campaign's first half was offense.This was exemplified by the prolific Peyton Manning, who may very well finish his career with every NFL passing record if he can stay healthy. After starting the season off in record-tying fashion in September, Manning and the Broncos picked up where they left off this month. His 20 touchdowns before being intercepted this year was the longest streak of TD passes before being picked off to start a season. The Denver offense was clicking so well this month that its Oct. 13 game against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars opened with the Broncos as 28-point favorites, the largest spread margin for a game in NFL history. Proving why you shouldn't trust the books, though, Denver won by "only" 16.AROUND THE WORLDAlso in the NFL this month, Detroit's Calvin Johnson turned in a masterful 329 yards receiving in a 31-30 win over Dallas. It fell just 7 yards shy of the all-time mark, set by Flipper Anderson in 1989. ...From football to, well, football (depending on where you're reading this): with Barcelona's 0-0 draw and Atletico's 1-0 defeat both on Oct. 18, the two clubs each fell one victory shy of Real Madrid's 45-year-old record nine victories to start a La Liga season. ...Still on the pitch, with just one point through eight games, Sunderland got off to the worst start in Premier League history. ...Someone who knows how to both start and finish, Serena Williams concluded her stellar 2013 campaign with the most money ever earned by a female player in a single season. Her $12,385,572 is the third-most ever, behind only Novak Djokovic's 2012 ( $12,803,737) and 2011 ($12,619,803) seasons.And that does it for October!With more NFL records falling and the New York Marathon complete, November is already looking great for records. So be sure to visit us again next month for the best of the best!

Record-breakers in the news todayFootball fans around the world will be tuning in tomorrow to watch English football’s most prestigious domestic cup competition – the FA Cup final.This year’s final sees last year’s Premier League Champions Manchester City take on struggling underdogs Wigan.The most wins of the FA Cup is 11, a record held by by Manchester United (1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994 and 1996, 1999 and 2004). The most goals in a final is seven when Blackburn Rovers beat Sheffield Wednesday 6-1 in 1890 and when Blackpool beat Bolton Wanderers 4-3 in 1953. The biggest victory is six when Bury beat Derby County 6-0 in 1903, a year which saw Bury avoid conceding a single goal in all their ﬁve Cup matches.Sticking with the world of sport, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton is used to having glamorous support from the paddock on race days, with his popstar girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger regularly in attendance showing her support.However, it’s another of his VIP guests who has been getting all the attention in the practice rounds ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix – his bulldog Roscoe.The 2008 world champion has been seen walking his prized pooch around the paddock during breaks after obtaining a special VIP pass for his pet, complete with a photograph of the dog wearing trendy headphones.The fastest 100 m with a can balanced on head by a dog is 2 min 55 sec achieved by Sweet Pea, an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie cross and her owner Alex Rothaker (USA) at the college of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois, USA, on 3 September 2008.The US government has intervened in the row over the 3D-printed gun, demanding that designs for the weapon be taken offline.The order to remove the blueprints for the plastic gun comes after they were downloaded more than 100,000 times.The most powerful mobile phone gun is a 0.22 calibre (0.22 in) pistol, disguised as a cell phone, which can fire a (close-range) lethal round of four bullets when numbers 5,6,7,8 are pressed in quick succession. It is believed that these phone-guns are made in Croatia, and have already been regularly seized in drug raids across Europe over the past decade.Finally, researchers at Michigan State University in the US have found a strain of bacteria that can infect mosquitoes and make them resistant to the malaria parasite.The study, in the journal Science, showed the parasite struggled to survive in infected mosquitoes.Malarial parasites of the genus Plasmodium carried by mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles (the world’s most dangerous mosquito) have probably been responsible for 50% of all human deaths since the Stone Age (excluding wars and accidents). Each year in sub-Saharan Africa alone 1.4-2.8 million people die from malaria.

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Video: A close shave as Gillette set new male grooming world record for Movember

Male grooming company Gillette UK have marked Movember – the annual moustache growing charity event - in appropriate style by setting a new world record in London.Teaming up with UK beauty and health retailer Superdrug, the firm successfully set a new title for largest shaving lesson with 334 members of the public styling their facial hair.This event took place last Saturday at Westfield Stratford shopping centre in London’s east end Gillette have broken the Guinness World Record for the Largest Shaving Lesson, as part of its partnership with the Movember men’s health charity campaign.It beat the previous record of 332 participants set by Gillette UK’s counterparts in India at Chitrakoot Grounds in Mumba in April last year.video

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Happy Mother's Day 2013, America!

Here at Guinness World Records, we pride ourselves on measuring only objective achievements. Things like the “prettiest girlfriend” or “coolest dog” would never find their way onto our extensive record database.That said, allow me to share a “Happy Mother’s Day!” to all of the “greatest Moms in the world” out there, as tracked in the personal record databases of the millions of people across the U.S.Sunday is Mother’s Day here in America, marking the 99 th anniversary of the establishment of the holiday on a national level.To celebrate, here’s a worldwide record-breaking look at the women who made us what we are.ALL IN THE FAMILYMothers help their children accomplish so much, from learning how to tie a shoe to understanding mortgage rates. But mom Jan Meek and her son Daniel Byles (both UK) took this partnership to a whole new level with their achievements. They started off becoming the first mother-son team to row any ocean when they crossed the Atlantic east to west from Oct. 12, 1997, to Jan. 21, 1998. Nine years later, they became the first such team to reach a Pole, journeying 350 miles (560 km) in 24 days to get to the magnetic North Pole on May 2, 2007 -- just 11 days before Mother's Day that year.Meanwhile, it would have been difficult for mom Feodor Vassilyev to duplicate Meek’s tactics – if only because she’d find it impossible which child to choose for her adventures.Vassilyev bore a record-breaking 69 children across 27 different pregnancies in 18 th-century Russia. She gave birth to an astonishing 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets – but no sight of a partridge in a pear tree. Not surprisingly, the 16 pairs of twins is also the most such sets born to any one mother.FOREVER YOUNGAs for some great age-related maternal records, look no further than right here in the U.S.The first verified mother-child supercentenarians (meaning to reach age 110 or older) were Americans Mary P. Romero Zielke Cota, who lived to age 112 years 17 days, and her daughter Rosabell Zielke Champion Fenstermaker, who passed away in 2005 at age 111 years 344 days.As for becoming a mother, the U.S. also boasts the oldest adoptive parent. Frances Ensor Benedict was 83 years 329 days old when she legally adopted Jo Anne Benedict Walker on April 5, 2002. The adoption took place in Putnam, Tennessee, with Walker setting the record for oldest adoptee at age 65 years 224 days.And the oldest mother to conceive naturally? That would be Dawn Brooke (UK) who gave birth to a son at age 59 on Aug. 20, 1997.GIFT IDEASLastly, you’ve surely bought Mom her present already, right? You haven't?!Well, if not, maybe going the world record route is best.There’s the largest box of chocolates (above), weighing 3,725 lbs (1,690 kg) by Thorntons Moments and unveiled in London on April 2, 2008.Or maybe the largest bouquet suits Mom better, created by the NordWestZentrum shopping mall in Frankfurt on Sept. 29, 2005, containing 156,940 roses.Whatever you do, make sure to give Mom a big hug this Mother’s Day and let her know that, just this one time, Guinness World Records says she is in fact the best.

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4364 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelists break record for largest trading card tournament

Have you activated any trap cards recently? Do you own any Rescue Rabbits or perhaps a Tour Guide From the Underworld? Do you know the difference between a Fusion Summon and a Synchro Summon? Well, those taking part in this record-breaking event sure did!Having now reviewed the evidence, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS can announce that last year's 100th Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, held in Long Beach, California, USA, is officially the Largest trading card game tournament ever held.A total of 4,364 Duelists (players) battled against one another in this event, breaking the record previously held by Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix Madrid, which attracted 2,227 players." We are honored that the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME continues to grow and maintain the top positions with GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™" said Tomoyuki Tsuboi, President of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Yu-Gi-Oh! is also recognised as the Best-selling trading card game, with over 25 billion cards sold as of 2011.In Yu-Gi-Oh!, as with other trading card games (TCG), players compete using decks of their own design, using cards they have collected from booster packs and pre-constructed decks. Two players face-off in a Duel, utilising cards that represent powerful monsters, magical spells, and surprising traps, attempting to win the game by reducing their opponents life points to zero. It takes a mixture of strategy, planning, and a little good fortune to rise to the top in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.At the 100th Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series event, it quickly became apparent that more players than anyone had anticipated had come to play in this special event. However the organisers were able to expand the play space to an area equivalent to more than 12 American football fields to accomodate all 4,364 Duelists.By the fourth round, over 1000 players had been knocked out of contention, and after round eight, only 859 participants remained.After 11 rounds of Swiss play (players play against an opponent with the same record each round), the tournament moved to a 64 player knockout (single-elimination) structure.After two elimination rounds just 16 players remained, sporting a variety of deck archetypes, including Skill Drain HERO, Piper Chaos, Dino Rabbit, Dark World, Wind-Up, Inzektor, and Chain Burn.At the climax of the weekend tournament, Michael Balan's Dark World deck defeated Simon He playing Dino Rabbit, awarding him the title of 100th YCS Champion!Balan received prizes including a trophy, an Ultra Rare Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Prize Cards Blood Mefist card, paid travel and accomodation to the World Championship Qualifier tournament, and a 64GB iPad.The Dark World deck he used to win the tournament used spells such as Dark World Dealings and Card Destruction to discard and activate the effects of his Dark World monsters, wreaking havoc on his opponents. Once discarded to his graveyard, he could then Special Summon Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World, a powerful level 8 monster, back into play. Balan describes his deck in detail in this video.Do you want to learn to play and become the next YCS champion? You can find out more about the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game on its website and Facebook page.

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Guinness World Records: Gone Wild! Season Finale Preview

After a rollercoaster month-and-a-half of record thrills and some literal spills, the hit first season of "Guinness World Records: Gone Wild!" comes to a close Thursday night with a group of attempts sure to leave you desperate for more.As we've seen throughout this season, participants continue to find new ways to break records with food, and that theme continues in the finale. No fewer than five records involving food will see competitors test their mettle and leave you wondering what record you could break next time you're bored in the kitchen.Two of those attempts will see food used the way it was meant: by inserting it in the mouth. We'll see one competitor attempt to eat an onion in the fastest time. Take the words of "Shrek" to heart and remember this attempt will not be easy -- onions, after all, have layers. Then we'll see another try to stuff as many whole hamburgers in the mouth as possible. No word yet on if they'll be quarter-pounders.Other food-related attempts include the most eggs crushed with the head (Omelette, anyone?), the farthest marshmallow nose blow (no s'mores, thank you very much) and the most watermelons crushed with the thighs.Having already seen attempts this year at the most watermelons sliced on the stomach and most watermelons crushed with the head, this delicious summer fruit has turned into the first season's MVP.But a menu isn't required for all of the finale's attempts. In fact, two of the most potentially impressive records will ask competitors to do the amazing with nary a fruit or vegetable around.Extreme pogo stick jumping has experienced quite the rise in popularity lately and one big reason is because of skills like the one that will be on display in this episode. One pogo jumper will take a leap after the most consecutive pogo stick backflips. For those of us who have a hard enough time pogo sticking in place for a minute, this attempt is sure to impress.And lastly, expect to end the season on a shattering note, as the below man attempts to run through the most panes of glass consecutively. With a look in his eyes like this, I would be quite afraid to miss what happens once he's ready to go.Don't forget, as always, make sure to follow along as we live tweet the action on @GWR and to talk about all your favorite records at facebook.com/GuinnessWorldRecords. Then come right back here on Friday for a full recap."Guinness World Records Gone Wild!" airs Thursdays in the U.S. at 8 ET/PT on truTV.

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Ford set for new Star Wars, Beckham's new China job and Harlem Shake sack – The news in world records

Record-breakers in the news todayVeteran actor Harrison Ford has revealed that he and his original "Star Wars" co-stars Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher are on the brink of officially signing on for JJ Abram's reboot of the classic sci-fi franchise."I think it's almost true, I'm looking forward to it," the 70-year-old star told Chicago's WGN-TV."It's not in the bag yet, but I think it's happening."In 1998, Ford set the record for highest annual earnings for a film actor, after earning $58 million (£35 million).The record has since been broken several times, by stars such as Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Will Ferrell and Johnny Depp.The current holder is Tom Cruise, who according to Forbes earned $75 million between May 2011 and May 2012.A nine-year-old girl from the UK's Isle of Wight has had a prehistoric beast named in her honour after fossilised bones she found turned out to be an undiscovered species.Daisy Morris stumbled upon the remains on Atherfield beach four years ago.A scientific paper stated the newly discovered species of pterosaur would be called Vectidraco daisymorrisae.Based upon the number of finds since their discovery in 2008 in Zhucheng City, China's Shandong fossil bone beds comprise the world's biggest dinosaur fossil site.According to Zhao Zijin of Beijing's Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, this site has already yielded more than 7600 fossils, dating from the Late Cretaceous Period (100 million to 65 million years ago). David Beckham has today began his new role as a global ambassador for Chinese football with a visit to Beijing.The former England and Manchester United star will attend league matches and visit clubs to "help educate young people" about getting involved in the sport. The 37-year-old star, who currently plays for French side Paris St Germain remains a financial top draw, and remains the current title holder for highest annual earnings for a footballer. He raked in a staggering $40 million (£24.2 million) from May 2010 to May 2011, a figure boosted in part by his lucrative sponsorship deal with Adidas. Finally, a librarian has been fired after footage of students at Oxford University doing the Harlem Shake appeared on YouTube.The group of 30 undergraduates were filmed doing the viral dance sensation in St Hilda's College library.Those who have been identified have been fined.American indie rock duo Matt & Kim (aka Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino) organized the largest Harlem Shake - based on Baauer's hit song meme that went viral in February - when they persuaded a 3,344-strong crowd to dance maniacally at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Houston Field House arena in Troy, New York, USA, last month.

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Egg-cellent achievements! Ten of the best Easter world records

Its Easter weekend, the most important festival in the Christian calendar, and one also marked with chocolate eggs, hot cross buns, and folks dressing up in often quite scary bunny outfits.To get you in the mood for the holiday, here are ten of the best Easter-temed world records.1.The largest chocolate Easter egg weighed 7,200 kg (15,873 lbs 4.48 oz) and had a circumference of 19.6 m (64 ft 3.65 in) at its widest point and was made by Tosca (Italy). It was measured at Le Acciaierie Shopping Centre, in Cortenuova, Italy, in 2011.2, The most expensive non-jewelled chocolate egg sold at auction for £7,000 ($11,107) and was created by William Curley, Amy Rose Curley, Alistair Birt, Sarah Frankland, Melissa Paul, Rhiann Mead (all UK) and Suzue Curley (Japan). It was sold at the Royal Courts of Justice, London, UK, on 20 March 2012.3. Good Friday in Bermuda is marked with colorful, multi-sided kites made of sticks and tissue paper dotting skies all over the island.The highest altitude by a single kite was achieved by Richard P Synergy (Canada) after achieving an altitude of approximately 4,422 m (14,509 ft) above the point of take-off on 12 August 2000 near Kincardine, Ontario, Canada.The kite, a high-tech delta, had an area of 25 m2 (270 ft2) and was designed and built by Synergy himself.At its maximum altitude the kite had 7.31 km (4.5 miles) of woven kevlar line connecting it to a winch on the ground. The record-breaking flight lasted 8 hr 35 min.4. The largest Easter egg hunt consisted of 501,000 eggs that were searched for by 9,753 children accompanied by their parents at the Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven, Florida, USA, in 2007.5. Similarly, the most entrants in an egg hunt competition is 12,773 and was achieved by The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt, as part of World Record London, in London, last year.6. The record for the largest easter egg tree was set by Zoo Rostock GGmbH, Rostock, Germany who decorated a tree with 76,596 painted hens eggs on 8 April 2007.7. The largest rabbit made of chocolate weighed 3,010 kg (6,635 lb 91 oz) and was made by Duracell South Africa in Sandton City, Gauteng, South Africa, on 19 March 2010.The chocolate Easter bunny measured a height of 3.8m (12 ft) and was sculpted in under 3 days and was made by a team of 4 people in time for the Easter celebrations.8. On a similar big-eared tip, in 2007, community leaders in Delta, Ohio organized the largest bunny hop in honor of Delta High School, whose mascot is the rabbit.A record 3,841 participants formed one continuous line and hopped like rabbits for a full five minutes to ensure they earned they’re place in the history books.9. The largest hot cross bun weighed 168 kg (370 lb 6 oz) and was made by the RSPB in conjunction with Greenhalghs Bakery (both UK), in Bolton, UK, on 5 April 2012.10. Finally, here’s a big bunny to end our list. Darius, a Flemish giant rabbit owned by Annette Edwards (UK), was found to be 129 cm (4 ft 3 in) long when measured in April 2010.

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March Sports Blog

With so much great action happening in the sports world, it’s a perfect time to bring back the Guinness World Records Sports Blog.This month, we’ll take a look at the record-breaking latest from the Six Nations, golf, and more from March. And make sure to check back at the end of every month for our round-up of the best of the best from the hardwood to the grass.SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIPSBy the time Wales wrapped up its second straight win of the Six Nations this month, a number of both team and individual achievements had etched their way into the record books.The Red Dragons, for one, took home the title on the strength of their play away from the Millenium Stadium, notching three of their four victories away from Cardiff. Its Week 4 triumph over Scotland in Edinburgh made it five consecutive road winsfor Wales in the Championships, the most ever in the competition. Coincidentally, that same match saw another record fall with 18 penalties taken, an international high.On the individual front, Ireland’s Ronan O’Gara continued adding to his iconic career. O’Gara’s record career points and penalties totals in the competition extended to 557 and 109, respectively. He also continues as the most-capped player in Six Nations history, with 63 appearances, three ahead of teammate Brian O’Driscoll, who can take solace in having the most career tries in the tournament with 26.And for some tournament history, England and France sit jointly atop the all-time table for wins with 47 victories each. Meanwhile, combined scoring dropped for the fourth consecutive season, as the nations’ aggregate 534 points and 37 tries were each the lowest ever for a campaign.TIGER'S BACKvideoNot too long ago, anything seemed possible for Tiger Woods’ career. Most career majors? Most PGA Tour wins? Win the Masters left-handed?Before his oft-discussed struggles off the course helped sink Woods down to the No. 58 world ranking in late 2011, Tiger ruled over the golf world like one would stand over a 2-foot putt.After his two-shot win at this month’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods has scaled the mountain again, returning to the No. 1 ranking in the world for a record 624 th week. To put that in perspective, Woods has spent more time as the best golfer in the world than “Cheers” spent on television.The victory was also Woods’ eighth at the Arnold Palmer, tying Sam Snead (Greater Greensboro Open) for the most wins of any single PGA Tour event.AROUND THE WORLDElsewhere, the Chicago Blackhawks broke the NHL record for most consecutive games earning a point to start the season, going 21-0-3 before suffering their first loss on March 8. … Deron Williams of the Brooklyn Nets set the NBA record for most 3-pointers made in one half, draining 9 in the first half March 8 against Washington. … Bernard Hopkins proved advanced age is no reason to stop punching others for a living, becoming the oldest person to win a major boxing world title with his IBF Light Heavyweight belt win Tavoris Cloud on March 9 at a youthful 48 years 53 days old. …India’s Test cricket newcomer Shikhar Dhawan compiled an 85-ball hundred in the 3rd Test against Australia on March 16, the fastest century by a Test debutant.Come back next time to see what April has in store. Can the NBA finish its season with a flourish? What will the Masters bring? The Grand National and Major League Baseball join the fray. Lots to look forward to, and we’ll see you next month!

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Video: 80’s pop stars set highest-ever Harlem Shake world record for Comic Relief

A host of '80s pop stars helped do their bit for charity while also making their way into the record books yesterday, after performing the highest ever gig.Bananarama and Go West entertained passengers as they waited in the departure lounge, before singer Kim Wilde and Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley performed a history-making gig at 43,000ft (13,000m) on a Boeing 767 aeroplane.In order to break the record, which had previously been held by James Blunt who performed at 12,825 metres (42,080 feet), the artists needed to perform a 15-minute set accompanied by musical instruments.In accordance with Guinness World Records guidelines, all musicians had to be live and in person, with no singing along to backing tracks.Kim and Tony's set in the end lasted for 22 minutes and 36 seconds, with Wilde playing her hits 'You Came', 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' and 'Kids In America', while Hadley performed acoustic renditions of 'True', 'Gold' and a cover of Queen's 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'.The veteran stars also showed they still have their fingers on the pulse by taking part in a second record, this time for the highest ever 'Harlem Shake', with Tony and Kim joining the plane's 128 passengers to perform Baauer's viral craze dance.The concert - titled 80s Gig InThe Sky - was hosted by TV star Shane Richie, and took place to raise money and celebrate 25 years of the UK anti-poverty charity Comic Relief.The attempt was organised by British Airways, who have helped raise over £4.5 million for Flying Start - the airline's charity partnership with Comic Relief.Guinness World Record Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday who adjudicated the event, said: "I was on board the British AirwaysHighest Stand-Up Comedy Gigin 2011, when the airline set its first Guinness World Record. I didn't think that they could top that, but having witnessed today I'm proud to say that they most certainly have. The Harlem Shake has to be one of the most amazing records I've ever witnessed!" videoThe record double follows on from BBC chat show host Graham Norton's feat for Comic Relief last Thursday, which saw him set a new record the most questions asked during a TV chat show.Graham fronted a six-hour show on BBC3 in which he quizzed a continuing roll call of guests asking a total of 175 questions, in turn helping to raise more than £1 million for the charity.Fellow comedian Sanderson Jones and friend Mikey Lear also did their bit for Comic Relief by attempting a record-breaking charity hug, remaining locked together for strenuous 25 hours 22 minutes 36 seconds on 2 March 2013.For more information about Comic Relief, and how you can help to raise money on Red Nose Day this Friday, head to www.comicrelief.com